Spray apparatus



July 5, 1932. H. ALBERTINE 1,866,285

SPRAY APPARATUS Filed 001;. 5. 1928 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Herman Alber'ime BY v V ATTORNEY July 5, 1932. ALBER-UNE 1,866,285

SPRAY APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a r 35 .54 b I INVENTOR Herman Alberizne ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" HERJMIiALl' ALBERTINE, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO ROGERS PROD- UCTS COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SPRAY APPARATUS Application filed October 5, 1928. Serial No. 310,521.

My present invention is concerned with spray apparatus of the general character 1n which a head of compressed air or other gaseous medium is used to eject liquid from av tank g'either in a solid stream or as a coarsely or finely atomized spray.

While capable of a wide range of utility, the invention finds one of its preferred embodiments in an apparatus for handling fairly heavy oil, such, for instance, as lubricating oil for leaf springs, which is commonly applied with a spray gun.

An object of the invention is to provide an oil spraying apparatus in which the proportions of oil and air in the mixture whlch flows to the atomizing nozzle is not sub ect to variation from casual causes, such, for 1nstance. as a reduction in the supply pressure caused by tappim the pressing source for other purposes. The device of the present invention will be used extensively in garages where such conditions are quite apt to occur due to diverting part of the compressed air supply for tire filling purposes.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the velocity of the spray as well as the spray mixture is practically independent of variation or even temporary failure of pressure delivered by the air supply source.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which the outflowing oil is thoroughly filtered and at the same time the filtering means is kept clear so that it cannot clog the oil discharge line.

The apparatus preferably consists simply of a tank and a removable tank closure fitting which carries all of the various sprayer connections. such, for instance, as the air inlet, oil outlet, air metering valve, tank vent valve and gauge. By virtue of this arrangement. when a tank is empty, the fittings may be removed and attached to a new tank of oil with expedition and facility.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention. the special sprayer fitting is readily attachable to and detachable from any ordinary tank having a suitable opening in its top. This opening may serve as the filling opening or may be supplemented by a separate filling spout in the event that it is found deof directly from the primary source.

sirable to refill the tank without removing the fitting. The fitting may comprise a body having a threaded extension which screws into the tank opening. Air inlet and oil outlet conduits are carried by the fitting and terminate near the bottom of the tank, the lower open ends of these pipes being preferably encircled by a common filtering screen which filters the outflowing oil and is blown clear by the in-flowing air.

Compressed air from any suitable source affording sufficiently high pressure, say, 25 pounds to 100 pounds per square'inch is introduced into the air inlet line through a conventional check valve fitting on the body and I prefer to' provide a leak hole ill the air inlet pipe above the liquid level so that part of the inflowing'compressed air .will pass directly into the tank head above the oil level and part of it Will serve to keep the filter screen clear and agitate the oil. The oil discharge pipe connects through the body with a valved discharge line which may conventionally include a flexible hose with a spray nozzle at its end having a relatively restricted orifice.

An important feature is the means for accurate metering of the air proportionately to the oil. This means includes a dead-end passage in the body supplied directly from the compressed air in the top of the tank instead This same air pressure in the top of the tank also operates directly on the oil to force it upward through a pipe having a submerged intake. This difference in pressure is extremely small, however, since the oil column is only a few ounces heavier than the air column, whereas the air pressure in the tank which takes effect on both of them is 25 pounds to 100 pounds. The oil column being entirely unthrottled up to the point of discharge of the air into the same, no oil can be expelled until the needle valve has been closed enough to apply friction on the air flow equal to the few ounces required to lift the liquid. Consequently, there is no injector action such as is appliedin ordinary atomizers to draw the liquid up through a restricted orifice as the result of suction due to the velocity of the air jet. Consequently, the air is introduced into the oil column only in the form of bubbles having substantially the, same pressure as the liquid in which they are entrained. It will be noted however, that both the liquid and the bubbles are under the above described pressure of 25 pounds to 100 pounds per square inch above atmosphere and the bubbles are expansible while the liquid is not. Conseqluently, the oil with entrained bubbles fiows a ong until it reaches the restricted outlet of the nozzle into the open air. There the entrained bubbles of highly compressed air suddenly expand and act explosively to shatter the oil; and the extent of the shattering, that is, the fineness of the mist produced, will depend on the high initial pressure and number and volume of the bubbles entrained in the liquid. This is a radically different arrangement producing an entirely different result from that produced by any injector atomizers of the prior art.

Because the air is relatively light and frictionless, the metering valve orifice for the air must be relatively small in comparison with the cross-section of the oil discharge pipe.

Preferably means is provided on the body or fitting for venting the tank preparatory to removing the fitting or introducing the new charge of oil and the vent line may conveniently serve a pressure gauge also attached to the fitting.

The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pressure tank equipped with my improved sprayer mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the fitting which carries the valving and associated mechanism of the sprayer.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is-a transverse sectional View on the line 66 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the manner in which the ends of the air pipe and oil pipe are received with a common screen.

The tank 10 has an opening in its top encircled by acollar or boss 11 internally threaded for the reception of threaded end 12 of the fitting body or plug 13. This opening may conveniently serve as a filling opening if desired or a separate filling spout 14 and closure cap 15 may be provided.

The body or plug 13 is of hexagonal or other polygonal cross-section for the reception of a wrench.

Depending from the body are air inlet pipes and oil outlet pipes 16 and 17 respectively, these pipes being substantially parallel and terminating near the bottom of the tank, their lower open ends being encircled by a filtering screen 18. Preferably the air inlet pipe 16 terminates somewhat above the lower end of the adjacent pipe 17 in order that the air stream which blows the filter screen clear will not introduce an undesirable amount of air bubbles into the upflow oil pipe.

Preferably only a portion of the air supply passes through the screen 18, some of the air leaking through an opening 19 near the top of the pipe 16 directly into the head of the tank above the oil level.

The air pipe 16 enters a longitudinal vertical passageway 20 in the body 13, this passageway at its outer end being enlarged as at 21 for thereception of a conventional air check valve 22 equipped with the usual dustcap 23 and adapted to be coupled to and held open by any conventional type of compressed air supply nozzle.

The up-flow oil pipe 17 enters the bottom of a passageway 24 in the body, this passageway having a dead end and near such end being intersected by a threaded transverse passageway 25 opening laterally of the body and adapted to receive a pipe line such as the line 26. Flow of oil through this line may be controlled by a suitable valve 27. As is customary in the art, the pipe line 26 may be coupled to a hose 28 which in turn is coupled to an elongated spray nozzle 29.

This nozzle may have its own valve as at 30. One end of the nozzle is angularly offset as at 31 so that relatively inacessible areas to be sprayed may be more readily reached and the nozzle orifice is quite restricted relatively to the rest of the oil discharge line in order that the oil stream or air and oil mixture as the case may be, will escape from the spray orifice at a relatively high velocity, this velocity being controlled of course by operation of the valve 30.

The passageway or socket 25 is diametrically opposite another threaded passageway 32 which intersects a second dead end passage 33 communicating directly with the compressed air in the head of the tank. A stufiing box may be formed by screwing a hollow plug 34 into the passage 32 against packing material 35 and the threaded stem 36 of a needle valve 37 works'through the stufiing box, this stem having a suitable external operating handle 38. The seat for the needle valve is provided in a short passageway 39 axially alined with the sockets 25 and 32 and connecting the tops of the passageways 24 and 33.

Valve 37 serves as an air metering valve to regulate the flow of air bubbles into the oil stream which is passing upwardly through the passageway 24. I

When the needle valve is fully closed, a solid oil stream will emerge from the nozzle intermediate adjustment gives a completely or partially atomized oil spray, the fineness or mistiness of which may be regulated mere- 1 ly by adjusting the metering valve.

A pressure gauge 40 is preferably attached to the body of fitting 13 by a threaded pipe 41 entering a threaded transverse passageway 42 in the body. Passageway 42 communicates with a longitudinal passageway 43, the latter at its lower end providing free communication with the compressed air in the top of the tank and at its upper end intersecting a transverse passageway 44 opening through the side of the body opposite to the passageway 42 and being enlarged and threaded at its mouth for the reception of a vent valve 45.

This valve is preferably of the needle type, normally closed upon its seat 46 and having a longitudinal groove 47 therein which permits the escape of air as the needle valve is retracted by turning. its handle 48.

In order to avoid the necessity for manually holding an air nozzle connection on the valve 22 I may provide a simple form of nozzle retaining mechanism best seen in Fig. 3. Such mechanism includes a post 49 screwed into the top of the fitting 13 and having a sleeve 50 slidable and rotatable thereon. jecting nozzle-engaging arm 51. A wing nut 52 is screwed on to the top of the post 49 and a light coiled expansion spring 53 encircles the lower end of the post between the sleeve 50 and the body 13," this spring tending to urge the sleeve upwardly to the extent limited by the nut. It will be apparent that the arm may be swung over an ordinary air nozzle fitting and tightened against it to any desired extent by screwing down the nut. Thus an air line nozzle may be conveniently retained in place non-manually and without danger of casual disconnection at the valve. 3

The operation of the device is as follows: The tank is charged with oil preferably to a point below the level of the leak hole 19. An air line is coupled with valve 22 to charge compressed air into the tank. When the gauge registers the desired pressure, say from 25 to 100 pounds, the air connection is cut off. Obviously, if desired the tank may be permanently connected to a source of compressed air at the desired pressure.

\Vhen an oilspray is desired the valves'27 and 30 are opened to the desired extent and the metering valve 36 is also partially opened. The pressure of the air which bubbles through the orifice 39 into the outflowing oil column will be only slightly greater than the pressure of the oil itself. this difference being equal to the weight of the oil column above the liquid This sleeve carries a laterally prolevel and to the difference in flow resistance between the air and oil.

The oil stream with its entrapped compressed air bubbles flows on to the nozzle 31 where it passes at an accelerated rate of'speed through the restricted nozzle orifice and emerges in the form of an atomized spray. The extent of this atomization, or in other words, the lightness and mistiriess of the spray is of course controlled by the high initial density of air in the bubbles and by the setting of the valve 36 which controls the number and size of the bubbles relatively to .volume of the liquid. I

When the tank has been substantially emptied of its contents it maybe refilled either through the spout 14 or the collar 11.

Fitting 13 and its associated mechanism may be conveniently removed either for refilling urposes or for application to another tank.

rior to refilling, however, it is advisableto vent the tank by openin the vent valve 45. In this manner I guar against a sudden blowing out of oil when the cap 15 is unscrewed or the plug 13 removed.

. Certain characteristics of the apparatus described above are worthy of special consideration. One important feature is the fact that a failure of the air supply cannot result" in a sudden variation ofthe oil and air mixture nor in clogging the air inlet with oil.

In the event that the air inlet line is directly connected to a compressor while the spray is operating, sudden failure of the compressor can only result in a gradual diminuation of the velocity of the spray and will not affect the proportions of the oil and air mixture as regulated by the metering valve. This of course is due to the fact that the metering valve receives air from the tank head and not direct from the source.

Oil couldnot blow out through the air conduit even in the event ofa sudden failure of air pressure, while check valve 22 is held open by a nozzle, because in such a contingency the difference in flow resistance of the oil and air will result in air blowing out through the leak hole 19 and preventing a rise of oil in the air conduit.

As suggested above, the velocity of the issuing atomized oil spray is controlled primarily by the size of the nozzle opening, but may be further regulated by the proper adjustment of the valve 30. By virtue of the air nozzle clamping arrangement the operator may have both hands free to manipulate the nozzle and adjust the nozzle valve.

Iclaim: v

1. A tank from which liquid is adapted to be forced under pressure including a liquid outlet line, a compressed air inlet line terminating beneath the level of the liquid but slightly above and laterally adjacent the submerged terminal of the outlet line and having a leak hole therein through which a portion of the air discharges into the tank above the liquid level.

2. A pressure tank from which liquid is to be forced by a head of compressed air,

5 liquid outlet and air inlet conduits terminating adjacent each other beneath the surface of the liquid anda filtering screen about the end of the liquid discharge conduit adapted to be blown clear by the incoming air stream, 1 said air inlet conduit terminating above the end of the oil outlet conduit and within the screen whereby the screen is cleared of sediment by the inflowing air without flow of air bubbles up the oil conduit. 3, A compressed air inlet fitting for tanks or the like including a plug adapted to be screwed into the tank and having an air passageway therein, an air inlet valve at the outer end of the passageway adapted to be coupled to the nozzle of an air line and means mounted on the plug adjacent the valve for retaining the nozzle against casual displacement, said means including a post, a clamping arm rotatably and slidably mounted on 2 the post, a spring urging the clamping arm in one direction and an adjustable nut bearing upon the clamping arm to force it in the opposite direction to compress said spring.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a plug 80 type spray fitting for pressure tanks including a body having three longitudinal passageways therein, one of said passageways constituting a compressed air supply line and being open at one end and valved at its other 8 end, the other two of said passageways being of the dead-end type and having a valved connection with each other, a lateral-tap intersecting the upper end of one of the passageways in alinement with the valve, such passageway constituting a liquid outlet and communicating with the top of an open-ended liquid delivery pipe, the other of the deadend passageways being adapted to communicate directly with compressed air in the top of the tank to which the fitting is applied.

Signed at New York city, in the count-y of New York, and State of New York, this 4th day of October, A. D. 1928.

HERMAN ALBERTIN E. 

